Art & Living Culture
Ratnapura Gem Mine Tour
Descend into Sri Lanka's sapphire belt: pit mines, river mines, open-cast workings, and rough-stone sorting
Spend half a day with mining families in Ratnapura, Sri Lanka's storied City of Gems. Visit working mine sites, watch gravel washing and panning, and learn how rough sapphires are identified, graded, and traded through trusted local networks. This is a grounded, hands-on look at a living industry, bringing geology, culture, and local livelihoods into one experience.
Highlights
- ·Guided access to pit mines, river mines, and open-cast sites
- ·Live demonstrations of panning, washing, and rough sorting
- ·Context on Ceylon sapphires, ethics, and local trading practices
Included
- Local gem guide
- Mine host coordination
- Safety briefing
- Private transfers between sites
Weave it into your journey
Every experience slots into a custom route, your travel designer shapes the perfect day.
Add this to your tour builder or speak with our concierge to match it to your dates, party size, and the rest of your island circuit.